They invited me to give my Crime Prevention / Fraud presentation and were a brilliant audience. Often the most informative part of the evening, are the questions people ask and of course their interaction. My grateful thanks to them, for making my evening so enjoyable - and providing a wonderful supper !!!.

The Rotary are always looking for new members to support them in the brilliant charitable work they do. If you would be interested, let me know and I will forward your details to them.

I have been invited to and will be agreeing a date shortly, visit the St. George's Rotary Club of Datchet. I am looking forward to that.

NEXT A SERIOUS WARNING:

COURIER FRAUDS ARE STILL WITH US !!! PLEASE BE ON YOUR GUARD AND SP[READ THE WORD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

I have received this from RBWM Community Warden, Clive Dent, who along with Warden Lorraine Rellis have particular responsibility for elderly and vulnerable residents within RBWM.

Hi Jeff,

I have just been to see a scam victim.

Last week, she received a telephone call - “I’m Sgt Woodleigh from New Scotland Yard, Fraud Department. Your account has compromised and is being used by criminal gangs”. She fell for this scam and engaged totally. She was told to protect her savings, she should withdraw all her cash. He would send a courier to collect it, so that it could be placed into a protected police account. She withdrew £6,000 from her accounts and handed it over, when a motorbike courier, sent by Sgt Woodley, arrived to collect it.

The scammers also wanted details of any other bank accounts she had - to protect them - from the ‘criminal gangs’ ! Thankfully, she inadvertently gave them the wrong bank account details for a second account, which contained more money, She was very lucky, because on this occasion, they did not get this.

Unfortunately, her husband had died 2 weeks before and she was at a particularly low point in her life. She gave the scammers her address - so the courier would know where to go, to collect the cash. The gang, which now had her address and knowing that she was vulnerable, widowed and alone, possibly turned up at her home on last Friday evening.

Last Friday a car pulled up outside her house, 3 Asian men got out and went towards the house. Fortunately, a neighbour was outside watching and as soon as the men realised they were being observed, got back into the car and drove off at speed.

It was then that the aggrieved felt something was not quite right. She made some enquiries and found that ‘Sgt Woodleigh from New Scotland Yard Fraud Department’, did not exist.

Police are aware and are her children have been in contact with her bank and made them aware.

She banks in Windsor. When she went in to make the withdrawal, they did make enquiries with her, as it was an unusual withdrawal and a large sum for her to withdraw. They asked her what the money was for. To avoid making the bank suspicious, the scammers clearly told her to say that it was to pay for her late husband’s funeral expenses !

Can you let everyone know, this is happening once again.

Clive Dent

Community Warden

Community Protection and Enforcement

OVER TO YOU !

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FROM THE PCC I MENTIONED ON FRIDAY.

THE CLOSING DATE IS THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER !!!

Don’t think in terms of asking for a limited / minimal amount. Think about what you would like to do then cost it. there are bid writers at RBWM who can help you with the wording. It is not that hard. The money is there raised from the sale of found property.

Someone is going to get it, it might as well be you and your brilliant idea. Get together with your neighbours - A NHW Scheme is a Community Group !

The bidding criteria are certainly wide enough for you to bid for this money !!! The process is very simple.

£100,000 available to community and voluntary groups

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, and the Chief Constable, Francis Habgood, have today (31/08)opened a new grant round of the Police Property Act Fund.

The Fund, which is jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, is created from money recovered by the police and the proceeds from the sale of items that cannot be returned to identified owners, including seizures from criminals.

Last year over £140,000 was distributed to 40 different organisations to reduce re-offending and prevent cybercrime and the PCC and Chief Constable expect to allocate around £100,000 in this grant round.

Applications are now invited from local voluntary and community groups who can contribute towards a key aim in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan priorities, which are:

Vulnerability

Prevention and Early Intervention

Reducing Re-Offending

Serious Organised Crime and Terrorism

Some examples of projects that may be considered include those that prevent ‘peer on peer abuse’, rehabilitate offenders, prevent exploitation or tackle elder abuse. However, all applications will be required to submit clear evidence of how their project or activity already contributes towards achieving the key aim indicated.

The closing date for this round of applications is 5pm Thursday 21st September 2017 and applications will be considered jointly by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld said: “Many of the issues that I have highlighted in my Police and Crime Plan cannot be successfully tackled by any one organisation alone so it is crucial that we work in partnership. The local voluntary and community sector play an important part in our partnership work and there are many organisations in the Thames Valley that can offer a valuable contribution towards helping improve community safety.

“The Police Property Act Fund is a good opportunity to recognise this contribution and assist these organisations in continuing to make a positive change within our communities. In the past we have seen some truly brilliant successes as a result of this fund and I hope we will see many more from this round of funding.

“I would encourage any organisations who meet the criteria of the fund to apply and I look forward to seeing the applications.”

Chief Constable, Francis Habgood said:“Our force commitment says that we will work together to make our communities safer. I know that relatively small amounts of money can really help groups in the local and voluntary sector make a real difference. We have seen many examples of this in previous years and I would encourage people to apply if they meet the criteria for this year.

“Some of the money that we will be allocating has been seized from criminals. It is great to think that it is now being diverted to good causes across the Thames Valley.”

‘You can play your part in helping to tackle the terrorist threat facing the UK’.

‘Everyone, from law enforcement, to businesses, to the general public, has a role to play in keeping the UK safe from terrorism and to effectively combat the threat. Everyone needs to work together. Our aim, is to encourage people to be more vigilant – ‘if you suspect it, report it’ – please report all suspicious activity to the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321’.